Method and apparatus of treating materials



Dec. 17, 1946. 2,412,763

METHOD AND APPARATUS OFITREATING'MATERIALS D. S. BAKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fild June 12, 1945 Dec. 17, 1946. D. s. BAKER METHOD AND APPARATUS OF TREATING MATERIALS Filed June 12, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTYOR 4 04/00 5 644 54.

Dec. 17, 1946. B KER 2,412,763

METHOD 4ND APPARATUS OF TREATING MATERIALS 'Filed Jun 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet s I N V EN TOR. 0A 100 5 5/11/6519.

ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1946. D. s. BAKER METHOD AND'APPARATUS OF TREATING MATERIALS Filed June 12, 1945 4 Sheets-sheaf 4 INVENTOR 0 4;00 J. 54 52 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 17, 1946 METHOD AND APPARATUS OF TREATING MATERIALS David S. Baker, New York, NY. Application June 12, 1943, Serial No. 490,571

32 Claims.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for drying, humidifying, dewatering or other- Wise attempering a large variety of materials. It is directed to a method and apparatus of the general type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,102,607, granted on December 21, 1937.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and efiicient method and apparatus for carrying out the above stated purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for treating material continuously, or in batches.

Another object of the invention is to transform wet and often sticky material into dry powdered form.

Another object of the invention is to provide attempering apparatus which is flexible and may be readily adapted to the varying moisture content of the many different materials which may be treated by the said apparatus, and according to the condition desired for the treated material which may vary widely.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus which will require a very small amount of space in proportion to the amount of material which may be treated by it.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for advancing material across the treating surface adapted to meet the condition of shrinkage of the material as it advances from the wet end to the dry end of the treatment surface, and thus to maintain a full volume of material on all sections of the surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and means for attempering granular as well as plastic materials including such diverse materials as paint pigments, dyes, intermediates, sand and soils, sewerage, sludge, spent grain, cereals, vegetables, fruits, meats, and. a wide variety of other materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and means for continuously attempering material and exposing it at diiferent stages of treatment to differently conditioned air or other gas with an economy of space, and with a high degree of flexibility as to the time of exposure and the condition of the material and the gas at the time of each exposure.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and in the several steps and relation and order of each of said steps to one or more of the others thereof, all as willbe pointed out in the following description, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a detail view in prospective showing a portion of the endless material confining means shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, partly broken away for greater clarity in disclosing the invention, with the casing shown in vertical section;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the assembly shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end view, partly in vertical section, of another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the modification of the invention shown in Figure 5, partly broken away and with the casing removed;

Figure 7 is a detail view of a form of endless member which may preferably be used in connection with the embodiment of the invention. shown in Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, partly cut away, of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a plan view similar to Figure 4 showing a modified form of material advancing means;

Figure 10 is a detail view showing a modified form a means for separating material from the surface of the drum;

Figure 11 is a detail perspective view showing a modification of a section of the endless material confining means shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, showing another modification of a section of the endless material confining means.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, I provide a drum 40 mounted on an axle ll rotatably supported between the uprights l2. Extending over and around a large portion of the periphery of drlnn I8 I provide the endless, material-confining member is rotatably supported by the rollers The drum I0 is preferably provided with radially projecting end flanges l1, and the endless member l3 preferably extends over the flanges I! and bridges the space between them thus forming a thin extended chamber C between the portion of itself which surrounds and is concentric with the drum surface and the portion of the drum surface, and of its end flanges l7, surrounded by the said endless member #3.

with the throat t of the chamber or space, C,

formed between the concentric portions of drum 3 l and endless member l3. Communicating with hopper Hat one end is the chute 2% through which material may be initially supplied to the device, and at the other or outlet end oi'the hopper the end member I80, is provided extending inwardly from member l8 and having its lower and rear edges shaped to conform to the curvature of the endless member I3 and the surface of drum ii). A port I8b is provided in member 'Tilld through which material reaching the discharge end of the hopper is discharged into the screw conveyor S. As illustrated in Figure 4 an angle member a is provided, in the charging endo'f' hopper H, adjacent the open, inner end of chute 26, which is slideable lengthwise of the hopper and thus serves to control the Width of the portion of thechamber C into which material is initially charged, and so serves to control the volume or material treated in the device,

l The member 18, forming the front of hopper H, i mounted, in slideways s in the uprights [2, for reciprocal movement in a planeparallel with the axisof drum l6, and atspacedintervals along its lengthit is provided with apertures 2! through which may be projected the f ngers or blades 22 which serve to advance the material axially of the drum as will now be described Fingers 22 are secured atthe front end to the upwardly exieetiiee rie .2 9 a e m b 24 w is a relat ve heavy m ber nd re s p a moves with the rotary cams 25 which as shown are egg-shaped and mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane on shafts 26 rotatably supported from the horizontally extendingsupport'armi'ia of support member 21, in bearings 25c. The member 24 is provided with slots 2M and the cams 25 are provided with the upwardly extendmg lugs '28 which project into the saids'lots Z l'a.

Adjacent slots 24a, on the under surface of mem b'e'r Y4, are the bracket '1), extending at right angles to slots Eda, and positioned so that'oneo'f said brackets will be engagedfby the point of one o'fcahis '25 during the first 180 lof'its rotation and So that the other will be engaged during the second 185 of rotation by the po'intof the second cam, thus causing member '2! to be reciprocated and thus to reciprocate fingers 22'2.

When the cams 25are revolved the engagement or lugs 2% with the edges of slots are and the engagement of'th'e points of the'cams with brackets "b successively, causes the member 24 to move siicces'siv'eiy thro-ugh'a series of four steps; inwardly toward the drum It, thus projecting fingers or vanesf22 "into the hopper H, a shown in dotted lines in Figures '1 and 4; and then in a direction at right angles to the aforesaid first Inotion, toward the right endof the apparatus, 'the memb'er it also being moved axially of the drum, in slid'eways 8, during this stepldue to the contact between member 18 and fingers 22 at the frightihand marginof the apertures 2i through which finger-s 22 extend; then rearwardly, away fromthe drum iii, thus substantially withdrawing fingers '22 fromh'opper'H to the position indicated in the solid lines in Figures 1 and 4; and then in a direction toward the left hand end of the apparatus, the member l8 also being moved in its' slideways s to the left during this step, axially of the drum, due to the contact between member l8 and fingers 22 at the left hand margin of apertures 2!. The member 24 thus moves through a four motion cycle, and member I8 is reciprocated in it slideway during each such cycle, as indicated by the arrows 29 in Figure 4.

The drive for rotating earns 25, as illustrated in Figure 3, isthrough pulley 30 mounted on shaft lea, which may be extended to a source of power (not shown), through belt iii to pulley 32 mountedon the rod 33, rotatably moiulted in bearings 3 provided in the uprights l2, the worm gears 35 mounted on rod 33, and the worm wheels ile mounted on the cam shafts 26.

It will be understood that when roller shaft Ma is, rotated drum ID will be rotated due to the frictional contact between drum Id and belt l3 thereby causing synchronous rotation of the endless member i3 and the peripheral surface of drum [9. In order to facilitate the positive drivme relation between the belt i3 and roller M the latter may be provided with the peripherally serrated end flanges 1412 the serrations 'or teeth of which enter and positively engage the, links 38 of endless member or belt 13, and if desired the rollers 15 and 16 may similarly be provided with serrated end flanges 15b and lfib respectively.

Positioned above hopper H and extending between, and supported by, the uprights I2, is a doctor blade or scraper 31, the edge of which is in abutting relation with the peripheral surface of drum ill. The doctor blade 31 is preferably inclined downwardly away from the drum, and mounted so that the material upon leaving the surface of drum ill will move across doctor blade '3"! and be returned by gravity into the hopperH. It will be seen from Figure 1 that, i'n the modification of the invention shown in .Figu're's 1 to 4 inclusive, the doctor blade 3'! is positioned adjacent a portion ofthe peripheral path of the drum l0 which is not covered by the material confining member l3. As the material'leaves the surface of drum IE) it is returned by gravity into the hopper I-I, and'is delivered from the hopper between the, moving confining member I3 and the outer surface of drum Hi and is entrained by 'sa'id'member and surface and'is thus recharged into the same portion of the treatment chamber inwhich it was previously treated; and these opei'rations are repeated until the material, in the portion of the hopper receiving it, builds up to the height of "fingers 22. Thereafter theihcrement of material above said height is engaged by fingers 22, during their cyclical movement, described above, and moved laterally toward the right hand end of the apparatiis as shown inFigure' 3, and will then'again be directed between'a'nd entrained by, member l3 andthe outer surface of urumm, and will thu bechar-ge cl "into a portion'of the treatment chamber axially removed frointhefpor'tion in which it was previously treated; At thefsame time the in crement oi the material below the level of fingers 22 in the hopper H will be returned to, and retreated in, the same portion of the chamber in which it was previously treated. A

The endless confining member l3 maybe .oon-

accordance the particular material being treated iandthe kind of ham erin medium'crnpl'dyed and the flexibiilty required for travel in the endless path provided by the particular embodiment of the invention. As illustratedinFigs. 1 and 3, the continuous member l3 comprises two marginal chains of links 38, of standard construction, interconnected by the cross members or slats 33 which are disposed in substantially edge to edge arrangement, also of standard construction. Positioned on top of the cross members or slats 39 in overlapped arrangement are the thin belt sections or plates 40 which maybe of thin sheet metal or other suitable material, and which in this embodiment of the invention are illustrated as non-perforate for confining material which when dry becomes of fine granular size. The plates 40 are preferably se-. cured only at their front ends respectively, as by the rivets 4| anchoring theplates 40 to the cross members 39, and are thus capable of considerable angular movement in the direction of travel of the member 13.

' As stated above the rollers I4, [5 and it are preferably provided with peripherally serrated end flanges forming sprockets for engaging links 38 of the marginal chains of the endless members l3, thereby providing positive driving engagement between therollers I4, I 5 and i6 and endless members [3.

Extending over the roller l6 and around the lower course of endless member l3, over roller 14, and through hopper H to the throat t I provide the guide wires or rods 42 which serve as means to hold the free ends of the overlapping belt sections or plates 40 in substantially flat position to prevent material from entering between the plates 43 at the charging point, and to prevent plates fill from flapping during the return travel of the member 13, from approximately the point where the member I3 leaves the surface of the drum IE! to the charging throat t of chamber C. As illustrated in Figure 3 I have shown several such guide rods 42 but it will be understood that the number may be greatly varied, and, if desired, as when a material-confining member with very thin plates is used, they may be multiplied as required.

Preferably the whole assembly, above described, is enclosed in a casing 43 which may be provided with ports 44 in which fans, such as are indicated at 45, or other suitable means, may be provided,

to exhaust dust and dust laden air from the inr terior of the casing, and so that vapors from the dryer or dusting portion of the material may be removed from the casing separately from the vapors arising from the non-dusting portion of the material being treated. As shown in Figure 3 the casing 43 may be divided axially of the drum ill by a partition 35a separating the portion of the casing containing the material which has dried sufficiently to give off dust from the portion the scope of this invention. It will also be understood that the surface of drum Iii may be utilized at room temperature, or it may be attempted as desired, as by introducing an attempering medium into theinterior of drum 10, as for example through the space I la around axle I I,

At the discharge end of chamber 0, where the material confining member l3 leaves contact with the material which has been confined between member I 3 and the surface of the drum, a wire w, shown in Figure 1, is provided to aid in separating the material from the member I3. The wire w preferably extends the full length of drum l0, across the entire width of material confining member l3, and may be supported at its ends in the frame members I 2. Above wire w a doctor blade 12 may also be provided to separate from confining member I3 any material still clinging to member l3 after it has passed beyond wire w, and like wire w doctor blade d preferably extends across the width of member l3 and may be supported between the frame members l2.

In the embodimentof the invention shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, rotary drum 5!) is mounted on an axle 5i ro-tatably supported between the frame members or supports 52, and an endless member 53 is provided, extending around a large portion of the periphery of the drum 55 but preferably spaced from the surface of drum by the radially extending drum flanges a, over which member 53 extends, and supported and guidedby rollers 55, 55 and 55 mounted on rotatable shafts 54a, 55a and 55a, one of which may be driven by a source of power (not shown), thus rotating endless member 53 so that frictional contact between endless member 53 and drum 53 causes rotation of drum 50, and the peripheral speed of drum 50 is synchronous with the speed of member 53. As shown in Figure 5 the guide rollers 55 and 55 are supported between frame members (not shown) in substantially vertical arrangement, in front of drum 5D, and roller 54 is also positioned in front of drum 5!], and somewhat more removed therefrom. Extending around the drum 55, and enclosing the portion of endless member 53 which surrounds and is concentric with the periphery of drum 55, is an enclosing casing 51.

Mounted adjacent the drum surface and extending across its length, between the upper and lower flights of endless member 53 is the doctor blade 58 preferably of substantial width, the inclination of which may be adjusted so that the speed of travel of material across it may be made substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the drum. As illustrated in Figure 5 the doctor blade 58is pivotally secured on the rear end of an apron 59, which is supported between frame members 52 and is inclined downwardly from the drum. If desired both the doctor blade 58 and apron 59 may be vibrated.

In front of the drum 58 and extending across its length between the upper and lower flights of member 53, and above the rear end of means for returning separated material to be re-treated, such, for example, as an endless conveyor 5!], pcsitioned below the front end of apron 59, is a guide member 6! which maybe supported on cross bar 61a and cooperates with the guide member 62, positioned between the upper and lower flights of endless member 53 and below the lower flight of endless conveyor 60, to form a hopper H, having a gradually narrowing throat t communicating with the thin extended chamber C formedbetween the surface of drum 50 and the endless member 53. Material is initially fed into chamber C, through the chute Ella through which material is supplied into the device, and through the portion of throat t which is directly below chute 60a. Chute 50a is preferably positioned at one end of the device, as illustrated in Figure 6.

The endless conveyor 60 is mounted on pulleys 63' and 64. rotatably supported on the cross shafts 65 and '66, respectively, which may be supported in bearings (not. shown) in support members 52, and rotated in a direction Opposite to endless member 53 to receive the material from drum 59; as it'comes oil the front end-of apron 5,9 and carry it back, and r e-charge it into the thin extended chamber C through said throat t Either or both of said members 5| or GZmay be provided with vibration means indicated at 61 in connection with member 6|, to facilitate the return of the material into the treatment chamber,

Positioned below the apron 59, and preferably secured thereto as by the vertically extending member B8,.are a numberof deflector plates {59 which extend toward the top of conveyor 60, the lower ends thereof being, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5, preferably spaced from the top of conveyors!) by a distance equivalent to the height of chamber C. The deflector plates 69 are inclined toward the right, hand side of drum 59, as is shown in Figure 6, and are preferably mounted so that their degree of inclination may be adjusted.

It will be understood that as material builds up on the conveyor 69, above a height equal to the height of the attempering chamber it will be brought into contact with the deflector plate 69 as it is being moved toward chamber C, and will be advanced a step toward the right hand side of the apparatus, as seen in Figure 6, and in this way material being treated will be advanced step by step from the side of the device into which it is originally charged, to the opposite side of the device, across the surface of the drum.

As is indicated in Figures 6 and 7 the material confining member 53 may comprise any suitable foraminous belt, which, for example, may be of standard screen mesh construction comprising marginal chains the links it of which are secured together by the cross rods it which extend the full width of the machine between the chain members, and the screening 12 Preferably the peri-phery of drum 56 may also be perforate so that an attempering gas may :be passed through both the endless member 53 and the, periphery of drum 59 and the material between them. To facilitate this step the chamber or treatment space formed between said member 53 and drum is maintainedfull of material at all times, and free from voids, as by employin the'material advancing means disclosed herein in connection with this or other embodiments of the invention, and whereby only material in excess of that required to fill one chamber portion is advanced to another chamber portion.

'In Figure 8 a drum having a modified material receiving surface is shown, which'rnay if desired besubstituted in the embodiments of the, invention shown in Figures 1 and 5, modifying the scraper means 3'? and 58 respectively, to separate the material from the several portions of the drum having portions of different. diameter by extending portions of the scraper means toward the drum so that the material separating edge of the scraper will extend into operative position relative to the surface of the said several portion of the drum, and employing without change, the means shown in Figures 1 or 5 respectively for shifting the material axially of the drum. If the drum of Figure 8 is substituted in the assembly shown in Figure 1 the length of the fingers 22 may be respectively modified in accordance withthe distance between the front 18- of hopper Hand the. surfaces of the di erent po t ons, o th d m. The mod fied rum 'l hown in Fi ur 3 is d ided i os c i ns 1 14, 15 an of di fe ent ia rs; eparated by rad al flan es 1 1 and 7 ual p i l to the cndfia ecs l8 and Which ma be pa e apa n subro ed y any d sir d pa ngmeans,

su h for e amp e as t e pa g be s" 8 m unted o he axl f t e drum. The poripih e es of the-flangeslla, 11b, llc and '18 provide e at n ad a ed sta of dr nes n h fore' more permeable to attempering gasl Use of the chambers of increased depth permits a greater volume of; material to be dried in 4 given time during the continuous operation oi the device.

As indicated by the arrows in Figure 8; attempering gas may be suppliedthrough intake 84, fan or blower unit 8412, and conduit. 85, through port 86 in one of the end flanges it at one, end of the drum, into the interior of the drum, and can then be forced outwardly through the foraminous periphery ill of the drum, through the vmaterial in chamber 83, and foraminous endless member 19 into conduit 88. A portion of the gas reaching conduit 88 will be exhausted through outlet port 89, another portion will be returned to blower unit 84a to be recirculated, while the remainder of the gas reaching conduit 88, will pass through conduit 99 .into blower uni-t 9|, from which it will pass, together with new gas admitted through intake 92, through conduit 93, through foram ie nous endless member i9 and the material in chamber 82, through the ioraminous surface of the drum into the interior of the drum, from where it passes through ,port 94 in partition mom.- ber. 1112 and outwardly through chamber 8| to conduit 95. Similarly a portion of the gas reaching conduit 95 will be "exhausted through port 96, another portion will be returned tov blower unit 9! to be recirculated through the material in chamber 82 through conduit, 93, and another portion will pass throughrconduit 91 into blower unit 90. from which it will pass, together with new gas admitted through intake 99 through conduit H10, through the foraminous endless member 19 and the material in chamber 89, and through the foraminous periphery 8'! of the drum into the interior of the drum, and then outwardly through the drum surface, another portion of the mate,- rial in chamber Bil, and through the foraminous endless member 19, into conduit. till, from which a portion of the gas will be returned to blower unit'- 98 to be recirculated'through material in chamber Bil through .COnduit [99, and another portion of the gas will be exhausted through exhaust conduit I92. If desired heater units may be provided at the inlet end of conduits. 85, 93 and. Hill,

It will be noted that in each of the air intake conduits 84, 92 and 99, andineach of conduits 88, 95, and H31, and also in interconnecting con.- duits and 91, and exhaust conduit Hi2, valves or dampers 'v are shown, and it will be undere stood that by proper adjustment of the valves 12 three independent circuits may be provided, so that, if d si e a fl w o ttei pe ine gas ay be P o ided to ei h r chamber 3, ch m ers .91 and 82, or chamber 88, separately, or any two of these circuits may be operated without the third. Obviously the number of circuits andthe number of treatment chambers, and the number of chambers in communication with a given circuit, may be widely varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

In Figure 9 I have shown a modification of the means shown in Figure 3 for advancing material in the hopper H. According to this modification the material is advanced longitudinally of the axis of the drum, from the lateral portion of the hopper into which material supplied through chute ZIJ falls when it is first separated from the surface of drum I0, tothe discharge end of the drum, and the discharge conduit S, by the partition members Hi3 positioned vertically in hopper H and pivotally mounted, at their ends which are adjacent drum ID, on the supportin cross member I04, the ends of which may be supportedin the frame support members I2. The partition members I03 are each apertured adjacent their respective ends which are adjacent the front of hopper H, and through the said apertures extends a cross bar I55 fixed to the partition members IE3 by means, such as lock nuts Illliso that the partition members swing laterally upon movement of cross bar E5, the said apertures in the partition members I03 being large enough to provide for the necessary relative movement between th partition members I 53 and cross bar I during this movement. At its right'hand end, as viewed in Figure 9, cross rod I95 is fixed to a rotatably mounted crank IB'I having thereon a pinion I [33 which is adapted to mesh with the teeth I09 on pinion H0 and to be rotated thereby. The number of teeth on pinion IE8 and on pinion IIEI are proportioned so that the partition members Hi3 will be swung from their position indicated in full lines to the position indicated in dotted lines at desired intervals, according to the speed of travel across the drum surface desired for the material being treated. The pinion I II] may be actuated in any desired way, as for example, by a belt drive to pulley III from any source of power, not shown, which may conveniently be the same source of power used to rotate the drum and the material confining means.

Thus, if desired, the partition members I93 may be caused to move angularly to the right once for each three rotations of the drum, permitting material to pile up in the hopper, between the partition members, through three rotations of the drum, during which rotations the material will be applied to, and cut off from, the same portion of the drum, and will then, upon angular movement of partition members I03, be moved a predetermined distance to the right along the axis of the drum. Obviously the timin of the angular movement of the partition members I93 may be varied as desired so that the material may be treated repeatedly on the same portion of the drum surface, or in the same portion of the treatment chamber between the drum surface and the surrounding confining member, a desired number of times, and then moved laterally of the drum surface tobe applied to another portion of the drum surface, or, in other words, into another portion of the-treatment chamber between the drum surface and the surrounding confining member. 1 a

In Figure I have indicated means for separating material from the drum surface, such for example, as a doctor blade II2 supported on a bell crank I I3 which is in turn supported on a r cross member I I4, which may extend between the supporting frame members of the apparatus,'

whereby by pushing on rod I I5 of the bell crank the doctor blade H2 is caused to swin from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines, thus removing it from operating contact with the surface of the drum. By operation of the means shown in Figure 10 the length of time material remains upon the surface of the drum, and the number of times it passes between the surface of the drum and the surrounding confinin member without being separated from the surface of the drum, may be controlled as desired. Thus material may be applied to the surface of the drum and allowed to remain thereon, and to pass through the chamber formed between the drum and the material confining member, for one; two, three, or any given number of rotations of the drum, whereupon, by operation of the means shown, it may be separated from the surface of the drum, to be advanced along the longitudinal axis of the drum and re-applied to another portion of the surface of the drum, and it may be then retained upon this portion of the surface of the drum through any desired number of rotations of the drum.

In Figure 11 I have shown a modified formof the overlapping belt sections or plates of the endless material confinin means shown in Figure 2. According to this modification a plate Mia may be bent along its free or rearward end, forming the inclined. flange H6, adapted to aid in excluding material being treated from entering be'tween'th overlapping plates a.

In Figure 12 I have shown another modification of a belt section or plate, 4%, which is formed with a portion of double thickness along its rear edge. This may be conveniently formed by welding a narrow strip such as II I, which may be of the same material as the plate or belt section 4%, across the under face of plate 40b, preferably so that its rear edge is flush with the rear edge of plate Mlb. The addition of strip II Lhas the eifect of weighting the rear edgeportions of the plates and thus preventing them from vibrating'or springing apart during the portion of the circular path of the material retaining member when the material is being delivered from the hopper onto the surface of th endless material confining member. I

A particular advantage of my invention, several embodiments of which I have described here- -variation in speed of treatment, .the length of time material is continuously in contact with the drum surface and in the treatment chamber provided between the drum surface and the confining member, the kind and number of attempering mediums employed. and the difierent ,attemperin conditions to which different portions of the material may be subjected. Thus it will be understood that the material being treated may be either heated or cooled with my device, by contact with the air, or the surfaces of the drum or the confining means which may be at,- tempered in any known way, andan attempering medium may if desired be passed through both the confining member and the drum,. and the material, in either direction, or by all or any of these means.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a method, apparatus, and an article in which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved.

ama'ms As various possible embodiments mightbe made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matterv hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in .3, limiting sense.

What I'claim is:

.1. In a method of attempering materialof the kind described the steps which comprise charging 'material'betweenportions of two concentricrotatable surfaces, rotating the surfaces for apre determined distance, removing the material from between said surfaces, collecting the materialin a container, and recharging the material between said surfaces, and repeating these steps untilth'e material reaches a predetermined height in the container, and thereafter continuing to treatthe portion of the material below a predetermined level in said container by the afore said steps, but advancing laterally of said surfaces material; collecting in the container above the predetermined level, and thereafter charging the laterally advanced material between other portions of the said surfaces. 7 j

Ina method of 'attemperin'g material of the kindiidescribed the steps which comprise contin uously applying material to a portion of the surface of a rotary drum, confining the material on the surface of the drum while rotatin the drum, separating the material from the drum and directing it into a container, and returning the sep arated material to the same portion, of the drum surface to which it was initially applied and reconfining it thereon repeatedly until the said container is filled to a predetermined height, and thereafter advancing the increment of material in said container which is above the said predetermined height, and reapplying it to another portion of said drum surface.

.3.:Apparatus for treating material of the kind described which comprises a rotary drum,having amaterial receiving surface, means for separating'rnate'ria'l from the drum, a hopper adapted to receive the. separated material and to direct andtreturn material to the surface of said drum, and means operative upon material contained in said hopper to advance along the axis of the drum theportionof the material therein which is above a selected level therein from one portion of the surface thereof to another portion, the remainder of'the material being returned to the same portion of said: surface from which it was separated.

' 4. In apparatus of the kind described comprising a rotatably mounted drum, means for rotating the drum, a hopper extending longitudinal- 1y o'f 'the drum and adapted to feed material so that 'it is charged'o'nto' the surface of the drum, means for periodically transferring the material from the surface of the drum into said hopper "means intermittently projectable into the hopp t r and movablelaterally in the hopper to advance along t'he-axis of the drum material which is above a predetermined height in said hopper, and means for actuating said projectable means.

5.111 a method of attemper'ing material or the kind described the. steps which comprise charging-the material-onto a'portion of an attempering surface, periodically separating the material from said surface and collecting it in a container, periodically moving, relatively to said surface, the "portion of the collected material which is s. In a method 'of'attempering material of the kind described the steps which comprise continuously charging material onto one portion of the surface of a rotary drum, separating the material from the said portion of the drum, and collectin'g it a container, and redirecting the material. and recharging it onto the said portion of the drum surface, and repeating the aforesaid steps until the material rises above a predetermined level in said container, and thereafter periodically advancing a portion of the material in the container longitudinally of the drum to am other portion of the drum surface, and returning another portion of the-material to the same portion of the drum surface onto which it was previously charged. r

"7. Apparatus for treating material of the kind described which comprises a thin extended treatmeant chamber, means for moving at least one wall of the treatment chamber to transfer material from a charging point to a discharging point, a hopper adapted to receive material discharged from said treatment chamber and to charge material into said treatment chamber, and means operative upon the increment ofthe material contained in said hopper which is above a given height in said hopper to move the material relatively to said treatment chamber so that it will be returned to a portion of the treatment chamber other than the portion from which it was discharged, r

8. Apparatus for treating'materialof the kind described which comprises a rotary drum, an endless member having aportion substantially concentrically surrounding a portion of the pe- 'riphery of said drum and means for supporting the remainder of said endless member spaced outwardly from said drum causing the portion of the endless member not in contact with the drum to describe a loop extending outwardlyfrom the drum and leaving a space adjacentthe portion of the drum surface within the saidloop, means for rotating said drum and endless member syn- V to return it and to discharge it into the said hopper, and means'positioned .a predetermined distance above said material returning means adapted to defiectalong the longitudinal axis of 13 said casing and around the periphery of the said portion of the endless member. s i

10. In combination with the apparatus disclosed in claim 8, means for imparting vibratory motion to a wall of the said throat leading into the space between the periphery of the drum and the portion of the endless material confining member concentrically surrounding the periphery of the drum.

11. In apparatus of the kind described a drum having sections of different diameters separated by partition members normal to the axis of the drum and extending beyond the periphery of the drum, material confining means surrounding a portion of the periphery of the drum, and spaced therefrom by the portions of said partition members which extend beyond the periphery of the drum, and means for spacing said partition members axially of the drum.

12. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a foraminous drum having a plurality of sections of difierent diameter, partition members normal to the axis of the drum separating said sections and extending beyond the periphery of the drum, means for spacing said partition members axially of the drum, an endless foraminous member extending around a portion of the periphery of said drum and spaced therefrom by said partition members and means for feeding material between the said endless foraminous U of the drum sections respectively and to the same distance from the axis of the drum, and an endless member partially surrounding the circumference of said drum and extending over and bridging the said flanges thus forming a plurality of chambers of different depth between the said endless member and the periphery of the drum.

14. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a rotary drum having a plurality of sections of different diameter, said drum having radially extending flanges at its ends and between said different sections, extending beyond the peripheries of the drum sections respectively and to the same distance from the axis of the drum, and an endless member partially surrounding. the circumference of said drum and extending over and bridging the said flanges thus forming a plurality of chambers of different depth between the said endless member and the periphery of the drum, means for charging material into said chambers, means for discharging material from said chambers, and means operative on said material between said charging point and said discharging point to move said material from one of said chambers to another of'said chambers.

15. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a rotary drum having a plurality of sections of difierent diameter, said drum having radially extending flanges at its ends and between said difierent sections, endless means extending par tially around said sections, forming with the drum a plurality of treatment chambers, means for charging material into said chambers, means for discharging material from said chambers and returning it to be recharged into said chambers, and means between the discharging and chargterial while itis retained in'said other 14 ing points for advancing the material axiallyof the drum and from one chamber to another."-

16. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a plurality of superimposed spaced movable foraminous surfaces, means for entraining material between said surfaces, means for attempering said material while retained between said surfaces, means for separating the material from said surfaces, and a hopper for receiving the separated material and returning it to be reentrained between said surfaces, and means operative on material in said hopper for advancing a portion of the material therein laterally of said surfaces.

17. Apparatus of the kind described compris ing a plurality of superimposed spaced movable foraminous surfaces, forming a treatment'chamber, means dividing said chamber into a plurality of portions, means for attempering the material while it is retained in one or said chamber portions, means for separating the material from said chamber portion means for receiving the separated material andreturning a portion of it into the chamber from which it was last separated and, meansfor returning another portion of the material into another chamber portion, and means for separately attempering the machamber portion. l

18. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a rotary drum mounted in an enclosing casing, the said drum having end flanges extending radially outwardly from the surface of said drum and an endless member extending around said drum and across the said flanges forming a chamber between itself and-the periphery of the drum throughout a large portion of the rotary path of said drum, the said casing having VET- tically spaced entrance and exit openings through which the said endless member extends, and through which material may be respectively charged into, and removed'fr'om, the said chamber, means for rotating said drum and said endless member at synchronous speeds, means adjacent the upper of said openings for removing material from the said chamber, means for charging the material into said chamber, an inclined apron adapted to receive the separated material and to direct it downwardl at'substantially the same speed as the peripheral speed of the drum, said apron being positioned to return the material for recharging into said chamber, and means located between the point where the material is discharged from the chamber and the point where it is charged into saidchamber for moving Inaterial transversely of the drum surface, along the longitudinal axis of the drum.

19. In a device of the kind described a thin extended'treatment chamber comprising two opposed spaced foraminou-s walls, at least one of the walls of said chamber being movable to transport material through said chamber, means for charging material into one portion of said chamber to be transported through said chamber, and means for receiving the material when discharged from the discharge end of said chamber and means operative on the material while it is in said receiving means for recharging it partly into the same portion of said chamber and partly into another portion of said chamber to be retransported through said chamber.

20. In apparatus of the kind described a plurality of annular material treatment chambers of different depths, having different internal. diameters and substantially the same external diam eter arranged co-axial in side by side relation,

means for' charging material into one of said chambers, .means for separating material from said chamber and recharging it into said chamber, and means interposed between the separating and recharging means for moving into the second of said chambers material in excess of the amount required to keep the first chamber filled.

21. In apparatus of the kind described a drum having a plurality of portions of different diameter, a member extending concentrically of said drum surface throughout a portion of 360, thus forming between itself and the drum surface a plurality of .chambers of different depth, means for charging the material into one of said chambers, means for separating the material from said chamber, a hopper adapted to receive material separated from the said chambers and to return it into said chambers, and means for advancing laterally of the drum surface, and from one of said chambers to another, material-that reaches a predetermined point in the said hopper.

'22. In the method of attempering material which comprises continuously charging material into a portion of the chamber formed between two foraminous surfaces, said chamber comprising a plurality of portions, and advancing the.

material from one portion of said chamber to another portion by aseries of steps including separating'the material from said chamber, advancing it, and recharging it into said chamber, the step of maintaining all ortions of said chamber filled by advancing an increment of the separated material from one chamber portion to another and returning another increment of the separated material to the same portion of said chamber from which it was separated, and passing an attempering gas through said surfaces and the material contained between said surfaces.

23. The method of attempering material which 1 comprises engaging the material successively between successive portions of two foraminous members, passing an attempering gas through said members and through the material contained therebetween, and eliminating any open g space between said foraminous surfaces by continuously supplying material into a first portion of the space provided between said members and advancing from one portion of the space between said members to the other portions of the space between said members, successively, only the increment of material in excess of the volume of material required to fill the said portion of the space between said members.

'24. In a device for treating materialscomprising a surface adapted to receive material to be treated, means for supplying material to a portion of said surface, means for separating material irom said surface,- and means for returning and re-applying material to said surface, means for advancing material laterally across said surface, a casing enclosing the surface and meansdividing the casing into a chamber. containing a substantially non-dusting portion of the material and another chamber containing the dusting portion of the material, said other portion having a port therein, and actuating means operatively positioned with respect to said port to remove from said casing the vapors that contain dust.-

25. In a device for treating materials comprising a surface adapted. to receive material to be treated, means for supplying material to a portion of said surface, means for separating mate rial from said surface, and means: for returning andre-applying material to said surface, means for advancing material laterally across. said surface, a casing enclosing said enumerated-elements having a pluralit of exhaust conduits partition means dividing said casing intotwo cham' bers each having an exhaust conduit, one of said chambers enclosing a portion of the material being treated which is substantially non-dusting, and the other portion of the casing containing the material which is dried enough to give off dust, and means for separately controlling said conduits so that vapors containing dust may be removed from the interior of said casing separately from vapors arising from the non-dustin portion of the material being treated. i

26. The method of handling material for at-- tempering it which comprises supplying the material into a portion of a :treatment chamber comprising two foraminous surfaces, passing it longitudinally and repeatedly through the said portion of thechamber until said portion is filled, and advancing transversely of said chamber into the adjacent portion thereof the increment of material in excess of that required to fill the said first portion of said chamber, and similarly filling successive portions of said chamber until said chamber is filled and thereafter advancing a p rt of the material in each portion of said chamber while retaining another increment of material in each of said portions of said chamber.

27. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a rotary drum having a foraminous surfacea casing at least partially enclosing said-drum, and a foraminous endless member extending around said drum forming a chamber between itself and the periphery of the drum throughout a large portion of the rotary path of said drum, the said casing having vertically spaced entrance and exit openings through which the endless member extends, and through which material may be respectively charged into and removed from said chamber, means for directing a flow of air through the walls of said chamber while the material is contained therein, and means for supporting said endless member in its travel between said entrance and exit openings, spaced outwardly from said drum causing the portion of said endless member not in contact with the drum to describe a loo-p extending outward from said drum, and means within the said loop for removing material fromrsaid chamber and for simultaneously returning a portion of the separated material to the same portion of said chamber from which it was separated, and advancing another portionof the separated material into another portion of said chamber. 7

28. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a rotary drum mounted in an enclosing casing, and an endless member extending around said drum forming a chamber between itself and the periphery of the drum throughout a large portion of the rotary path of said drum, said chamber being adapted to receive material to be treated, the said casing havin vertically spaced entrance and exit openings through which'the said endless member extends, and through which material may be respectively charged into, and removed from, the said chamber, the said drum and said endless member being foraminous, and means communicating with the interior of said casing for introducing an attempering medium into-said casing and for forcing it through the said endless member and the said drum and through the material contained between the drum and the endless member, said chamber being divided into a plurality of sections by par- 17 tition means, mounted on said drum and extending into said chamber, and means for supplying independent attempering mediums to the different sections of said casing.

29. In a device of the kind described a .thin extended treatment chamber comprising a plurality of movable endless wall portions, and having a charging end and a discharge end, material receiving means intermediate the said discharge and charging ends and communicating with said charging end, means for transferring material from said chamber to said material receiving means, material engaging means cooperatively positioned with respect to said material receiving means, means for causing relative movement between said material receiving and said material engaging means to divert a vertical portion of the material on said material receiving means and to cause it to be recharged into a portion of the chamber other than the portion from which it was last separated, and means for actuating said movable wall portions.

30. In apparatus of the kind described a chamber comprising two foraminous movable endless surfaces superimposed in spaced relation through a part of the path of travel of each of said surfaces and having a charging end and a discharge end, means for actuating said surfaces, means for directing material to be entrained between said surfaces and transported through said chamber, material transfer means movable between the discharge end and the charging end of said chamber to return discharged material to the charging end of the chamber, means for actuating said transfer means, and material shifting means operatively positioned with respect to said transfer means to advance transversely of said chamber the portion of the material which is above a given level on said transfer means.

31. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a rotary drum, and an endless member extending around said drum forming a chamber, between itself and the periphery of the drum throughout charged into and removed from said chamber,

means for supporting said endless member in its travel between said exit and entrance openings, spaced outwardly from said drum, causing the portion of said endless member not in contact with the drum .to describe a loop extending outwardly from said drum, means within said loop for directing material into said chamber, means within said loop for separating material from said chamber, and means within said loop for receiving material discharged from said chamber and delivering it to said material directing means.

32. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a rotary drum mounted in an enclosing casing, and an endless member extending around said drum forming a chamber, between itself and the periphery of the drum throughout a large portion of the rotary path of said drum, the said casing having vertically spaced entrance and exit openings through which the said endless member extends, and through which material may be respectively charged into, and removed from, the

said chamber, the said drum and said endless member being foraminous, and means communieating with the interior of said casing for introducing an attempering medium into said casing and for forcing it through the said endless member and the said drum and through the material contained between the drum and the endless member, said drum comprising portions of different diameter, forming with said endless member treatment chambers of different depth, and means for separately attempering the material in said different chambers.

DAVID S. BAKER. 

